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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How should history be understood, according to Emerson's essay "History"?

2. Each person has his or her own vocation that can be discovered by ______.

3. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the best gift, according to "Gifts"?

4. According to Emerson, every man is both ______ and partialist.

5. What are "apologies for gifts," according to Emerson?

Short Essay Questions

1. What two major failings of the church does Emerson explain in "An Address"?

2. What does Emerson think of Plato, according to "Plato; or, the Philosopher"? What indicates this?

3. According to "The Lord's Supper", what does Emerson say is the purpose of the Lord's Supper in Christian ritual? What does he say should be the focus?

4. How is each person's vocation discovered, according to "Spiritual Laws"? How is one's potential realized?

5. According to "Experience", why do most people not recognize the changes in their lives until they are looking in retrospect?

6. According to "Art", from where does all art evolve? What is its purpose?

7. What do the nominalists and realists each have on their sides, according to Emerson?

8. According to "Compensation", how does nature maintain balance? How can one maintain balance on earth?

9. What is transcendentalism, according to "Nature"?

10. What two problems with communion does Emerson explain at the end of "The Lord's Supper"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain Emerson's view of capitalism. How does this fit into his beliefs in transcendentalism?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role slavery plays in Emerson's writing.

Essay Topic 3

Explain Emerson's relationship with Thomas Carlyle.

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